Don (Left) and Alan (Right) at the World Scouting Museum
Alan Mooney visited Don Stalnaker in Charleston, West Virginia recently to present him with Criterium Engineers’ first ever Lifetime Achievement Award. Don opened his affiliate office in 1970.
First, for a bit about who Don is, here is a quote from Robin Tozier.
“I had the pleasure to speak with Don a few weeks ago. It was such a pleasure to speak with him. When we spoke, he expressed so such pleasure for his work. He has much to be proud of and his heart will always be working as an engineer. It’s such a wonderful thing to work with people who are so passionate about their craft.”
Here is Alan’s story about his day with Don Stalnaker.
Don’s Lifetime Achievement Award made from laser engraved reclaimed wood.
On Tuesday morning, September 9, 2025, Don Stalnaker picked me up at my hotel in Charleston, West Virginia. We started our day with an informal tour of significant landmarks that help define Don’s career and his history in the area. They included the home he built for himself and his wife in 1964, the apartments he lived in before he built his house and the State office building, he worked in when he first met Art Tauscher and began his parttime business that became Home Inspection Consultants of West Virginia. As we drove around, he pointed to many homes and buildings he had inspected during his 55-year career.
Our plan was to have lunch together. He was not able to have dinner with me, his wife is not well, and he wanted to spend the evening with her. We went to his favorite Chinese restaurant, The China Buffet, which is an amazing place that seats at least 200 in cafeteria style with a buffet of more than 50 items, and it’s all you can eat plus non-alcoholic beverages for $14 a person! And the food was very good!
At lunch and while we drove around, I enjoyed our conversation and learned that Don is 89 years old (he moves well, drives safely and, generally, is mentally sharp), has three sons and at least one grandchild. His Home Inspection Consultants business was quite successful and allowed him and his wife to travel while not at home tending to the business. In addition to travel in the United States he and his wife took 17 cruises to many European, Middle East and Asian destinations. In the 1980s he and a few friends even operated a dirt bike racetrack. The background to that was a story it itself.
After lunch, we had some time before our meeting at a house we had arranged to visit so I asked if there were any interesting museums in Charleston. He suggested the World Scouting Museum and noted that he had inspected that building when the museum founder, Dr. Robert Lynn Horne, bought it. So, we decided on that as our destination.
The World Scouting Museum has quite a history of its own. Briefly, it is the world’s largest collection of Scouting Memorabilia and was founded by a doctor from Las Vegas. You can learn more at worldscoutingmusuem.org.
The museum is in a modest building and not staffed full time. When we arrived, the door was locked but there was a sign on the door giving the hours of operation (we were within those hours) and a phone number call if we wanted to visit the museum. I called, Eric, the manager answered, he was in the building, came to the door and invited us in. The museum is amazing, with thousands (probably tens of thousands1) of badges, patches, uniforms, posters, Norman Rockwell paintings of Boy Scout events and much, much more. Of special note was two of their collection of five automatons (intricate mechanical figures from the 19th century) one of which was valued at $250,000! The automatons at the museum depict scouting related figures and activities.
Eric has been involved in the Boy Scouts for more than 20 years. He was an enthusiastic, knowledgeable host willing to answer all our questions, including my question about the health of the organization and the controversy and litigation related to admitting girls into the Boy Scouts. He gave us a thoughtful, comprehensive and positive answer; essentially change is inevitable, sometime painful but ultimately good for the organization. I can provide more information about that, call me if you’re interested.
Don (Left) and Eric (Right) at the World Scouting Museum
Earlier, when we left the hotel, I had brought the Lifetime Achievement Award we have prepared for Don thinking that we would find a good place to present it to him and take some pictures. As we wandered through the museum absorbing all the stories of accomplishments, merit badges awarded and Eagle Scout achievements, it occurred to me that the museum would be the perfect place to present Don’s award. And it didn’t hurt that Don had inspected the building!
When I suggested to Eric, the manager, he was thrilled. And it got event better when I explained what we do as engineers and what Don had done to deserve the award. Eric then, without any provocation from me, launched into a few minutes of expressing how much he appreciates what we do to make sure buildings are safe and serviceable, I wish I could have recorded it!
It was an emotional event for Don to receive the award that was enhanced by the museum setting and Eric’s enthusiastic, unsolicited endorsement of what do. We took pictures in the museum of Don and me with the award, and of Eric and Don with the award.
Don was thrilled with the award and said he know exactly where it was going to go, in the center of the mantle in his home.
After we left the museum, we went to meet some others at a home we were scheduled to visit.
My time with Don that day was very special.
– H. Alan Mooney, P.E., Founding President, Criterium Engineers